Everett Football Coach Resigns -- Freeborn Seeks Opening At Another School

Roger Freeborn said he plans to coach high school football next season.

He's not sure where.

Freeborn has resigned after seven years as coach at Everett High School.

Freeborn has not yet resigned as social studies teacher at Everett, but will do so if he accepts another coaching and teaching position.

Freeborn said last night he has not found another coaching job. Most openings are not posted yet. He said he will go where the best opportunity is, but wouldn't mind moving to a "one-high school town."

"I have my goals as a coach. The way things are and have been heading at Everett just aren't commensurate with the goals that I have," Freeborn said. "I just have some basic philosophical differences with where we're at and where we're headed. I felt it was best for my own situation (to resign). You just have to assess where you are and the way things are going."

Athletic Director Pat Sullivan said the school has accepted Freeborn's resignation. The football position will be posted in February, and Sullivan said he hopes to find a new coach by the end of March.

"Everett High School would like to thank Roger for his years of dedication and hard work and commitment to the young people of our school, and we wish him well," Sullivan said.

Freeborn said a major issue was Everett's decision to remain in the Western AAA Conference, despite the school's Class AA-size enrollment. Freeborn believes the football program would be better served by joining the WesCo AA.

"It was not any one thing," Freeborn said. "There were a lot of things combined together to factor into this decision."

By resigning his coaching duties before Christmas vacation, Freeborn said it helps him and the school.

"It gives them an opportunity to locate somebody to come in and take over. And it gives me an opportunity to get my name out there early," said Freeborn, 49.

Freeborn's wife, Jacquie, is a special-education teacher in the Everett School District. Their youngest son, Levi, is a sophomore at Everett and started at linebacker.

Freeborn has been coaching and teaching since 1968. His career record is 131-93-2. His seven-year record at Everett was 30-33 - 23-28 in conference games.

He previously coached and taught at schools in Oregon, Wyoming, Ohio, Iowa and Colorado.

Freeborn said he is proud of his work at Everett. He began a 6 a.m. weight training/study hall program, developed a course on the psychology of success and oversaw a computerized history class.

----------------------- SEAGULLS UNDER FREEBORN -----------------------

Everett High's record in Roger Freeborn's seven years as football coach:

WesCo Season

W-L W-L

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1988 2-5 2-7

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1989 4-3 6-3

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1990 5-2 6-3

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1991 3-4 4-5

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1992 1-6 2-7

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1993 5-3 6-3

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1994 3-5 4-5

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Overall 23-28 30-33

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